The world’s most popular sedan with over 44 million units sold worldwide, the Toyota Corolla, is now available in an exclusive variant in the UAE, loaded with new refined and sophisticated features.

Available in limited quantities, the 2019 Corolla XLi Exclusive marks the newest and most premium addition to the Corolla line-up. It comes with a refined, advanced, and sophisticated styling which sets it apart in its segment. Building on the nameplate’s heritage carrying on the legacy as a symbol of quality, durability and reliability in the medium size sedan segment.

The vehicle is designed to deliver a thrilling driving experience powered by a proven 1.6-litre in-line four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 15.7 kg-m of torque. Complementing the enhanced performance is the Multidrive 7S transmission that delivers unprecedented best-in-class fuel economy of 18.1 Km / L. The new Corolla is both fun and efficient!

Safety is a top priority for Toyota and being a family sedan first and foremost, the 2019 Corolla Xli Exclusive is loaded with a host of safety features including an advanced vehicle stability system, a tire pressure warning system, rear fog lamps, ISO-FIX and two airbags.

Inside, the cabin is more premium than ever, bringing a new level of chic craftsmanship with a warm comfortable interior that further enhances both the driver and the passager’s experience. The new Corolla Xli Exclusive is available in eight exterior paint choices, with body coloured door handles and mirrors that complement the new styling.

“Ever since its introduction in 1966, the Toyota Corolla nameplate has become synonymous with reliability, value for money and bullet-proof build quality and the latest iteration is set to drive that legend forward. The 2019 Corolla lives up to its decades-old heritage and promises unrivalled practicality and value for money,” said Saud Abbasi, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Toyota.

The Toyota Corolla 2019 XLi is now available for purchase at Al-Futtaim Toyota showrooms across the UAE, for AED 75,500 inclusive of VAT. It can be booked for a test drive through www.toyota.ae.

Recently we ventured into Jordan to drive the all-new Duster, the unstoppable SUV with Renault Middle East. While offering a range of high-quality, new features, the reinvented SUV will still retain the same level of affordability that the name ‘Duster’ is celebrated for.

The all-new Renault Duster boasts brand-new exterior styling, delivering a distinctly assertive and robust look, as well as an upgrade in perceived quality with a totally redesigned interior for a comfortable and user-friendly driving experience.

Since its global launch in 2010, more than 2.45 million Duster models have been sold across the world under the Renault and Dacia brands. The SUV for everyday motoring has been popular with drivers across the globe, with exceptional sales results recorded in Russia, India, Brazil and the Middle East.

The Duster’s roominess, affordability and off-road capabilities have long been recognised as the model’s strengths and the all-new models continues to carry these desirable attributes.

The SUV’s exterior has been given a more robust look thanks to the addition of a wide chrome-finish grille, which extends to the head lights positioned at the car’s front corners. A front skid plate reinforces the Duster’s adventurer credentials and ensures that the vehicle never loses its smart looks. Finished with Renault’s signature C-shaped lighting with LED daytime running lights the Duster is a modern SUV with a rugged personality.

Inside, the Duster is equipped with new, high-quality, driving aids and new equipment, making it a genuine adventure-ready SUV which offers the versatility and comfort for everyday driving. On stepping inside the cabin, the noticeable difference in quality is instantly recognisable – packed with ‘Easy Life’ features like Hill Descent Control, Multiview camera and Blind Spot Warning, 4×4 monitor, automatic air conditioning, Remote Engine Start (GCC only), seven-inch touchscreen tablet and Renault smart card with keyless entry system – as well as quality trims and materials.

The all-new Duster is available in both 2WD and 4WD specifications and offers among the market’s very best off-road capability. With a choice of two petrol engines; 1.6L (4×2) mated to a CVT automatic transmission, and 2.0L with automatic transmission (4×4), the Duster is an SUV equipped for any terrain.

Commenting on the launch of the all-new Duster, Marwan Haidamous, Renault Middle East Managing Director said, “Before the arrival to the region of the original Duster in 2012, there was little awareness of the Renault brand in the Middle East; the original Duster was responsible for boosting the brand’s awareness. Now, six years on, we are welcoming the all-new Duster which will, again, reinvent and reinvigorate the brand to new levels of performance and positive opinion – pushing us further towards our goal of being ‘best in class’.”

As a full-size luxury SUV, the Lincoln Navigator (Presidential) comes with indulgent luxury touch points at every turn, evident from the moment I opened the door for my one week drive experience.

Capable of producing 450 horsepower and 691 Nm of torque, the Lincoln Presidential made me feel like I owned the road. The twin-turbo 3.5-litre engine provides power delivered through a 10-speed transmission. Twin-turbocharged engine technology provided the fuel economy on demand, with the power and performance I needed and desired for different drive modes.

Inside, the three rows seats offer ample space and the front of the interior layout is clean and uncluttered, with a simple, soothing ambience. The all-new Navigator comes with six USB ports, four 12-volt power outlets, a 230-volt plug and a wireless phone charger in the first-row centre console. Individual driver preferences can be set for adapting seat, mirror and pedal positions, as well as climate control and entertainment settings.

A standard rear-seat entertainment system allows passengers to stream content wirelessly with their device to one of the 10-inch adjustable screens mounted on the rear of the front seats. Content also can be accessed from SD cards, an HDMI cable or USB drive.

Each screen can display different content, allowing a personalised entertainment experience for every passenger enjoyed using Revel® Ultima audio with 20 speakers that work in concert with Navigator’s interior design and acoustics.

The 360-degree camera and Enhanced Park Assist is a saviour for divers who stress about parallel and perpendicular parking. The system integrates views from four cameras to create an overhead image so the driver can see all around the vehicle.

The exterior of the Lincoln Navigator Presidential has an enhanced design language that is both bold and flashy and fits into the full-size luxury SUV segment. It is an athletic yet refined silhouette that makes it appealing to both men and women who need to make a style statement.

Driving the Lincoln Presidential for a week was an absolute delight – it offered me a uniquely elevated automotive experience that my love for combined luxury, sport and regal design in one space. It is the answer to luxury travel on wheels, perfect for road trips and equally at home in front of a luxury hotel entrance.

Since its debut in 1982 and subsequent evolution over eight generations, Toyota Camry has come to be embraced by people around the world for its excellent performance, ride quality, and high level of Quality, Durability, and Reliability (QDR).

The new electrified version of the Camry cements Toyota’s continued efforts to create ever-better cars and further reiterates its commitment to environmental sustainability. The all-new Camry HEV provides a comfortable and stable ride with superior handling characteristics while injecting a fun driving experience.

Thecar can be driven entirelybyeither electricalpower with zero-fuel consumption and carbon emissions,or with a combination of a petrol engine and two electric motors depending on the vehicle speed and customer’s driving behavior.The batteries in the hybrid electricdrivetrain are automatically chargedby either the petrol engine or when braking and decelerating,eliminatingthe need to plug in a power cord.

Suzan Kazzi, Head of Corporate Communications at Al-Futtaim Toyota mentioned at the launch event that Camry HEV has been leading the sustainable mobility march since 2008, being the first marque that pioneered the HEV technology in the UAE. The company has launched several hybrid electric vehiclesin the past two decades, leading to a steady rise in the adoption of its environment-friendly cars.

The interior features a distinctive design and offers convenience and comfort with a layer of luxury and a range of advanced features. This includes a wireless charging system for smartphones, dual-zone automatic air conditioning system, six-speaker sound system, multi-adjustable power front seats, and 60/40 split and reclining rear seats, among many others.

The all-new Camry HEV model also introduces thelatest in-vehicle information technology displays, offering a unique level of integrated information with minimal distraction. It relays information through 2 available interlinked displays; a seven-inch multi-information display within the instrument cluster, and an eight-inch audio/navigationcontrol panel that is seamlessly integrated into the center console in a modern, flush-surface design.

Acomprehensive array of safety features has been added to protect vehicle occupants, including six SRS airbags, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA),Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), as well as an enhanced body structure and platform structure, among many others.

Available in eight distinctive exterior and three interior colors, and 18-inch alloy wheels, the all-new Camry HEV lets customers express their individuality.The car is available across all Al-Futtaim Toyota showrooms.

Mopar®is giving a sneak-peek preview of two modified Ram 1500 trucks which will be featured in the Mopar exhibit at the 2018 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. The event is the premier automotive specialty products trade show in the world and is scheduled to take place from October 30 to November 2 in Las Vegas.

The pickup trucks, customized with a combination of Mopar production and prototype parts and accessories, are two of 14 personalized rides and hundreds of Mopar products that will be on display in the brand’s 15,345 sq. ft. / 1,425.6 sq. m. exhibit in the Las Vegas Convention Centre.

Mopar will also announce more news at its annual SEMA press briefing, which will take place on Tuesday, October 30, at 7:26 p.m. ET/4:26 p.m. PT. The presentation can be viewed live online at https://livestream.com/FCALive/MoparSEMA2018.

“The SEMA Show is truly the greatest stage for our brand to demonstrate what owners and enthusiasts can create with a little imagination and a selection of Mopar parts and accessories,” said Steve Beahm, Head of Parts & Service (Mopar), Head of Passenger Car Brands, FCA – North America. “There is a method to our SEMA madness – we use this show as a venue to gauge enthusiast interest in prototype parts that may become production offerings in the future.”

Mopar-modified Ram 1500 Rebel Concept

Mopar pulled from its palette of more than 200 parts and accessories for the all-new Ram 1500 and also bolted on select concept products to reinforce the already off-road capable personality of the Ram 1500 Rebel.

A Mopar conceptual performance hood covers the 5.7-litre HEMI®engine, which receives an additional performance bump thanks to the Ram Airflow Mopar cold-air intake, stamped up front with a moulded R-A-M text logo. The appearance of the performance hood pops even more with a grey metallic Mopar graphic and a Ram 1500 HEMI badge for those who want to share with the world what’s underneath. All vehicle badging has been turned Grey Metallic.

The “Low Down” builds off the Ram 1500 Big Horn trim level. The concept features a custom “Brassphault” colour palette – the upper body including the Mopar conceptual performance hood is custom Gloss Black, the lower body is Billet Silver and a thin Brass Monkey stripe wraps around the Ram, serving as both an accent point and a dividing line. All Ram and Big Horn exterior badging is coloured Gloss Black.

The Ram 1500 “Low Down” is dropped 2-inches / 50.8 mm closer to the street by a prototype lowering kit, providing a more aggressive stance and appearance. The “Low Down” rides on 22-inch oversized production wheels coloured custom Gloss Black with Brass Monkey accents to connect with the exterior colour theme. Mopar conceptual wheel flares are smoothed out and painted to match the Billet Silver lower body.

The “Low Down” packs a 5.7-litre HEMI engine under the performance hood and is augmented with a Mopar “Ram Airflow” cold-air intake featuring the R-A-M text logo moulded at the front.

Mopar at 2018 SEMA Show

The Mopar brand’s SEMA Show exhibit will also feature off-road flavour with a special section devoted to four Jeep®vehicles customized with new Jeep Performance Parts and accessories, products which debuted last year at the 2017 SEMA Show. For performance lovers, the drag-oriented, street-legal, 392 HEMI V8 engine-powered 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 will also be featured in the Mopar footprint, along with NHRA racer Leah Pritchett’s Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak car, which she drove to the 2018 NHRA Factory Stock Showdown World Championship.

The Mopar space will stay busy with a full slate of activities on tap, including panel discussions on Wednesday and Thursday featuring Mark Worman, star of Velocity’s Graveyard Carz vehicle restoration television show.

SEMA attendees can go head-to-head in a pair of Dodge Challenger SRT Demon simulators and compete in the “Drag Strip Showdown,” a contest in which the top four drivers with the best simulator race times will win a trip to the Dodge//SRT Bondurant Drag Racing School near Phoenix. Fans will also have the chance to race Mopar and Dodge NHRA championship-winning drivers Pritchett and Matt Hagan at the Mopar booth on Tuesday morning.

Recently, McLaren Automotive revived the legendary ‘Longtail’ name with the launch of the 675LT Coupé, minimising weight and optimising aerodynamics in parallel with increasing power, track focussed dynamics and driver engagement.

True to the spirit of its ‘Longtail’ predecessor and the traits inherent to a car wearing the LT badge, the 675LT Coupé earlier was acknowledged as the purest, most involving series-production McLaren supercar at launch.

Now as only the fourth ‘Longtail’ McLaren in more than two decades, the McLaren 600LT marks the beginning of the next chapter in the McLaren ‘Longtail’ (LT) story and at the same time sets a new sportscar benchmark as the fastest, most powerful and most track-focused, yet road legal Sports Series McLaren has created.

The McLaren 600LT is built to excel on roads and race circuits alike with an extended front splitter, lengthened rear diffuser and fixed rear wing. Built using the lightweight carbon fibre monocoque chassis for which McLaren is renowned, the 600LT further benefits from new carbon fibre bodywork that lowers vehicle weight as well as optimising aerodynamic performance.

Unique top-exit exhausts ensure that the new LT model has a distinct aesthetic appearance that identifies it as something particularly special, as well as delivering a substantial weight saving and anincredible aural experience.

To deliver the extreme performance appropriate for an LT, the McLaren 600LT is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-litre V8 engine that benefits from an uprated cooling system and reduced back pressure in an exhaust system that is even shorter and more extreme than that of the McLaren Senna. Peak power is 600PS (592bhp), with maximum torque of 620Nm (457lb ft) and thepower-to-weight ratio of the McLaren 600LT at lightest dry weight is an astonishing 481PS/tonne.

The new model features the forged aluminium double-wishbone suspension and lightweight braking system from the second-generation McLaren Super Series; bespoke, track-focused Pirelli Trofeo R tyres; quicker steering; sharpened responses from the throttle and brake pedals; significantly firmer engine mounts and exhausts that are mounted virtually behind the driver’s shoulder to bring the incredible sound of the powertrain into the cabin.

The driver is encouraged by the deep-rooted and incredibly pure connection with the car to fully exploit the optimised aerodynamics, reduced weight, increased power and track-focused dynamics. This higher level of excellence and engagement is the ethos at the heart of the McLaren 600LT, just as it was with the McLaren 675LT models and the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ before them.

Volume of the new McLaren LT will also be strictly limited. Production of the 600LT Coupé will begin in October 2018 and last for around 12 months, with build slots scheduled around existing Sports and Super Series models, as well as the sell-out Senna, Senna GTR and BP23. The specialist carbon fibre body panels of the 600LT will also ensure that it is significantly rarer than its Sports Series brethren.

Like its 675LT predecessors, each 600LT will be hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey. Available to order now from McLaren retailers, the McLaren 600LT Coupé is subject to availability.

Recently, McLaren Automotive revived the legendary ‘Longtail’ name with the launch of the 675LT Coupé, minimising weight and optimising aerodynamics in parallel with increasing power, track focussed dynamics and driver engagement.

True to the spirit of its ‘Longtail’ predecessor and the traits inherent to a car wearing the LT badge, the 675LT Coupé earlier was acknowledged as the purest, most involving series-production McLaren supercar at launch.

Now as only the fourth ‘Longtail’ McLaren in more than two decades, the McLaren 600LT marks the beginning of the next chapter in the McLaren ‘Longtail’ (LT) story and at the same time sets a new sportscar benchmark as the fastest, most powerful and most track-focused, yet road legal Sports Series McLaren has created.

The McLaren 600LT is built to excel on roads and race circuits alike with an extended front splitter, lengthened rear diffuser and fixed rear wing. Built using the lightweight carbon fibre monocoque chassis for which McLaren is renowned, the 600LT further benefits from new carbon fibre bodywork that lowers vehicle weight as well as optimising aerodynamic performance.

Unique top-exit exhausts ensure that the new LT model has a distinct aesthetic appearance that identifies it as something particularly special, as well as delivering a substantial weight saving and anincredible aural experience.

To deliver the extreme performance appropriate for an LT, the McLaren 600LT is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-litre V8 engine that benefits from an uprated cooling system and reduced back pressure in an exhaust system that is even shorter and more extreme than that of the McLaren Senna. Peak power is 600PS (592bhp), with maximum torque of 620Nm (457lb ft) and thepower-to-weight ratio of the McLaren 600LT at lightest dry weight is an astonishing 481PS/tonne.

The new model features the forged aluminium double-wishbone suspension and lightweight braking system from the second-generation McLaren Super Series; bespoke, track-focused Pirelli Trofeo R tyres; quicker steering; sharpened responses from the throttle and brake pedals; significantly firmer engine mounts and exhausts that are mounted virtually behind the driver’s shoulder to bring the incredible sound of the powertrain into the cabin.

The driver is encouraged by the deep-rooted and incredibly pure connection with the car to fully exploit the optimised aerodynamics, reduced weight, increased power and track-focused dynamics. This higher level of excellence and engagement is the ethos at the heart of the McLaren 600LT, just as it was with the McLaren 675LT models and the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ before them.

Volume of the new McLaren LT will also be strictly limited. Production of the 600LT Coupé will begin in October 2018 and last for around 12 months, with build slots scheduled around existing Sports and Super Series models, as well as the sell-out Senna, Senna GTR and BP23. The specialist carbon fibre body panels of the 600LT will also ensure that it is significantly rarer than its Sports Series brethren.

Like its 675LT predecessors, each 600LT will be hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey. Available to order now from McLaren retailers, the McLaren 600LT Coupé is subject to availability.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio has claimed the title of world’s fastest production SUV, setting a new benchmark lap time at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring – this is the latest achievement in the racing tradition of the Quadrifoglio in over a century of Alfa Romeo history.

A Stelvio Quadrifoglio lapped the 12.9-mile Nordschleife (North Loop) in a record 7 minutes 51.7 seconds. This new benchmark time is a full eight seconds faster than the previous production SUV record.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio record was setby Fabio Francia – the same driver who also set the track record for the fastest four-door sedan in the world on the Nürburgring with the Giulia Quadrifoglio in a time of just 7 minutes and 32 seconds.

The first SUV in the more than a century-long history of the brand, Stelvio embodies the true authentic Alfa Romeo spirit – distinctive Italian style, state-of-the-art and innovative engines, perfect weight distribution, unique technical solutions and excellent weight-to-power ratio.

Infused with Italian passion, craftsmanship and innovation, the all-new Alfa Romeo Stelvio is designed to conquer the winding road after which it is named.

The heart and soul of this ultra-high performance SUV is an all-aluminium, direct-injection 2.9-litre 24-valve Twin-Turbo intercooled V6 engine, delivering 510 hp and 443 lb.-ft. of torque, which is paired with the standard Q4 all-wheel-drive system for the first time. The engine is also paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission with specific settings for shifting in just 150 milliseconds when in Race mode.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio achieves the most horsepower per litre in its class.

Designed to enhance the all-new lightweight Alfa Romeo architecture, the all-aluminium 2.9-litre V6 Twin-Turbo engine features a compact 90-degree layout and was holistically designed for a low centre of gravity within the chassis.

Ultra-lightweight carbon fibre shell Sparco racing seats, providing maximum lateral support during extreme cornering thanks to more aggressive bolstering, and designed to be the lightest in the segment, while providing comfort for long road trips

Where other SUVs stop at utility, with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, Alfa Romeo took on the challenge to create the perfect mix of high performance, authentically sporty driving dynamics, Italian style and engineering technology with the comfort and roominess features which are typical of this segment.

Twenty-six years from its last Grand Prix, the Minardi M191B chassis #003, equipped with a Lamborghini LE3512 V12 engine and one of the protagonists of Formula One in 1992, is back on the track.

The exciting shakedown organized by Lamborghini Squadra Corse is the result of a meticulous restoration carried out by Lamborghini Polo Storico with the support of former Lamborghini engineering personnel who were active on the Lamborghini F1 project in the early ’90s.

The Minardi M191B #003 is the first single-seater to be restored by Polo Storico. After being on display at the Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese, the car underwent seven months of work to return to its original efficiency, with most of the original components maintained.

The tires, fuel tank, engine control unit, seat belts, and fire extinguishing system were replaced, while the other components were carefully restored, starting from the engine designed by Mauro Forghieri. The 12-cylinder LE3512 is still able to deliver the original almost 700 HP, enabling enthusiasts to relive the emotions of the golden years of Formula One.

The guests of honor on the occasion of its grand return are Mirko Bortolotti, Lamborghini factory driver, and Giancarlo Minardi. The founder of the Faenza-based team recalled the fruitful collaboration with Lamborghini that lasted for the entire 1992 season: “Seeing the models of 25 or 30 years ago is still exciting. They are the last cars before the beginning of telemetry and automatic transmissions. Apart from the growling noise, which still today brings back those wonderful times, it was a very flexible engine with enormous power starting from the low rpms.”

Entrusted to drivers Gianni Morbidelli and Christian Fittipaldi, the Minardi M191B #003 competed in the first Grand Prix races of 1992 before being replaced by the M192, also equipped with a Lamborghini engine. The best result achieved by the single-seater restored by Polo Storico was 11th place with Christian Fittipaldi at the wheel at the Spanish GP, and it is now ready to return to racing and competing in the championships dedicated to historic F1 races. The testing outcome was very positive: the car ran more than 20 laps without any problem and the Lamborghini engine perfectly maintained all the features that so impressed Ayrton Senna during the tests at Estoril in 1993.

Our region is full of young business start-ups, budding entrepreneurs and many successful global companies. Therefore, with the aim of combining innovative ideas, business insight and exciting discussions with like-minded entrepreneurs, Volkswagen Middle East partnered with the region’s largest experiential tech festival STEP X to provide a platform called ‘Meet the Mentors’ where young successful entrepreneurs exchanged advice, knowledge and business relationships.

This initiative comes in consideration of Volkswagen Middle East’s overarching strategy towards moving people forward. As a result, Volkswagen set up Mentor programmes between eight young entrepreneurs and eight experienced mentors, from Magnitt, Careem, Noon, Lamsa, Derq, Insydo, Mompreneurs, and Glowork to create the ‘Meet the Mentors’ series. The gathering gave the Mentees the opportunity to ask business focused questions and gain advice from the successful Mentors which they can take back to their own business development and communities.

These speed-coaching sessions took place in the new Volkswagen Arteon, to create a relaxing, but engaging environment for generating discussion, and as a result of the content, CNN will be showing these films across their website.

Andrew Savvas, Brand Director Volkswagen Middle Eastsaid: “At Volkswagen we are constantly seeking to attract like-minded people who aspire to stand out from the crowd, create their own path to success and work with innovative industry partners to move forward and shape our future. This campaign not only connects two people with the same mind-set together, to enable them to learn and share, but also opens the door to many others who may need similar advice to improve their businesses and personal development across the industry.”

The Meet the Mentors series focuses on eight different business themes which a lot of young entrepreneurs are facing in today’s business market: ‘The Power of Collaboration’, ‘Working with Data’, ‘How to Build Good Partner Relations’, ‘How to Build Your Brand’, ‘How to Connect’, ‘How to Sell Yourself’, ‘How to Seize Opportunities’, ‘How to Stand Out’.